Thirty-five New Zealand mountain bikers have journeyed to the Haute Savoie region of the French Alps to compete in the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup’s final round before the Paris Olympic Games hiatus.
This prestigious event, held at the renowned Les Gets location, marks the sixth round for cross-country and the fifth for downhill disciplines. Les Gets, which hosted the 2022 UCI World Championships, is part of the expansive Portes du Soleil region, one of the world’s largest ski and biking areas, spanning both Switzerland and France.
New Zealand’s gravity riders aim to maintain their stellar performance record on the challenging 2.2km downhill track at Les Gets. Situated 5,000 feet above sea level, this course features a 570m steep descent packed with technical jumps, roots, stones, bends, and slopes.
The cross-country course, equally demanding, spans 3.55km per lap and is set at 3,500 feet with an elevation gain of 140m, weaving through pastures and forests.
Among the Kiwi riders, elite national champions like Lachie Stevens-McNab of Rotorua (Union Steel Media), ranked 15th globally, and Queenstown’s Jess Blewitt (Cube Factory), ranked eighth, lead the charge. Unfortunately, Blewitt, who turns 22 next week, will miss this weekend’s competition due to injury recovery.
The elite men’s category sees 12 New Zealanders competing, while the elite women’s includes Rotorua’s Jenna Hastings, the junior women’s downhill world champion on this course two years ago.
New Zealand’s junior downhill ranks are particularly strong, led by Tauranga’s Eliana Hulsebosch, Wellington’s Erice Van Leuven, and Auckland’s Sacha Earnest, who are first, second, and fourth in the UCI standings respectively. Hulsebosch, only 16 and in her debut world circuit season, has already secured two consecutive World Cup victories.
In cross-country, Sam Gaze (Alpecin Deceuninck) is currently eighth in the world rankings and second in short-track. He aims for a strong performance ahead of a potential call-up for the Paris Olympic Games, health permitting. Fellow compatriot Anton Cooper (Trek Factory) is eyeing a return in later World Cup rounds after illness disrupted his post-strong New Zealand summer form.
Under-23 world champion Sammie Maxwell (Decathlon Ford) showcased her prowess with a top-10 elite finish in the last World Cup, a feat rarely achieved by Kiwi riders. She hopes to sustain this form in a competitive field featuring seven of the world’s top-10 riders.
The competition schedule kicks off with downhill qualification and semifinals on Friday (from 10pm NZT) and short track cross-country events. Downhill finals take place on Saturday (from 9:30pm NZT), followed by cross-country finals on Sunday (from 7pm NZT).
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